Display device



y 26 1953 J. c. VlDA 2,639,518

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Aug. 21, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

BY Jae Iv 6? V/DA A r TOR/Vt) J. c. VIDA DISPLAY DEVICE May 26; 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 21, 1950 INVENTOR. (fa/7w 0. Wm

WZ/Q/WM Patented May 26, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY DEVICE John C. Vida, Detroit, Mich.

' Application August 21, 1950, sari-amt. 180,518

6 Claims.

This invention relates to display devices generally and more particularly to a device suitable for exhibiting and demonstrating telescopic sights of the type commonly used on fire arms.

It has long been the practice of merchants, in selling telescopic sights, to display them in a show case or on top of a counter. This practice, however, does not enable a prospective purchaser to try readily a variety of sights under simulated conditions of use. To do this, would require mounting each individual sight on a gun, so that the customer could aim at a target and actually select that sight which was best adapted to his vision and style of shooting.

This procedure, however, is not practical because telescopic sights do not have a common or universal mounting; consequently, a separate gun would be required to exhibit and demonstrate each sight. To provide a gun for use with each type of telescopic sight carried in stock, would entail a sizeable investment, and one which few retailers would willingly make.

To avoid this difficulty, the inventor has as the primary object of his invention the provision of a display device adapted to exhibit and demonstrate telescopic sights so that they will appear, to the eyes of a viewer, substantially as they would were they mounted on a gun.

Another object of the invention is to. provide a display device for exhibiting simultaneously a plurality of telescopic sights and adapted conveniently to permit them to be demonstrated and viewed individually.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an inexpensive display device for exhibiting and demonstrating telescopic sights.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of a detailed description of the invention composed with reference to the accompanying drawings comprising a part of the application and in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation view of the device comprising the invention, showing a telescopic sight clamped in the rotatable rack.

Fig. 2 is a section view taken substantially on plane 2-2 in Fig. 1, showing the spaced telescope receiving pockets on the rack.

' Fig. 3 is a section view taken substantially on plane 33 in Fig. 1, showing the forearm stock in the open position.

Fig. 4 is a section view taken substantially on plane 4-4 in Fig. 1, with the shoulder stock removed, showing the annular array of spaced indentations in the Vfiltical face of the rack shoulder.

Fig. 5 is an elevation view of the foreward end of the shoulder stock, showing the spring loaded ball detent.

Fig. 6 is an elevation view of the clamp assembly shown in Fig. 1, detached from the rack and showing :the open position of the clamp yoke.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top view of the forearm stock taken substantially on plane 1--| in Fig. 3 and showing the locking shoulders on both of the stock members.

For a detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the drawings in which numeral l0 designates a conventional shoulder stock, having in the forward end thereof, an axially disposed opening l2 and a spring loaded ball detent IS. A rod I4 is fitted into the opening I2, and secured therein by a set screw I6. A forearm stock 18, comprising a fixed and movable member 20 and 22 respectively, is mounted on the forward portion of the rod [4.

The fixed member 2|] of the forearm stock I8 is secured .to the rod [4 by a set screw 24, and provided on the rear face thereof with a spring loaded ball detent 26, and a laterally disposed shoulder 21. The movable member 22 is provided on the foreward face with a shoulder 28 oppositely disposed to the lateral shoulder 21, and an indentation 30 adapted for cooperation with the ball detent 26 on the stationary member 20 of the forearm stock l8.

A locking bushing 32, secured to the rod M by a set screw 33, holds the movable member 22 of the forearm stock l8 in contact with the fixed member 20. A rack 34 comprising a pair of spaced spiders 36 and 38 connected by radial ribs such as 40, is mounted for rotation on the rod [4. A locking bushing 42, secured to the rod l4 by a set screw 44, holds the rack 34 in an abutting relationship with the forward end of the shoulder stock ID.

The spiders 36 and 38 are provided with a series of axially aligned pockets 46, for the reception of telescopic sights, such as 48. Mounting pads 49, of sponge rubber or other suitable material, are provided on the walls of each pocket 46 to protect the finish on the sights mounted on the rack 34. The rear spider 38 has an annular shoulder 49 provided on the face with an annular array of indentations 50 adapted to enter into a retaining relationship with the spring loaded ball detent [3 in the forward end of the shoulder stock II].

A series of spaced openings, such as 52, are provided in each of the radial ribs 40 for selectively mounting an adjustable clamp 54. The clamp 54 comprises a movable yoke 55 and a stationary fork having a pair of divergently disposed legs 56 and 58 and a stem 60. The stem 60 has a terminal slot 62 fitted over the radial rib 40 and detachably mounted thereto by a screw 64. The movable yoke 55 is hinged to one end :to the leg 56 and adapted on the other end to be detachably connected to the fork member 58 by a removable pin 66.

A vertically adjustable clamping jaw (is is suspended between :the fork members 56 and 53 by a screw 10, threaded through the yoke 55 and provided with a lock nut 12. A cushioning pad 13,;

made of sponge rubber or other suitable material, is provided on the gripping face of the clamping jaw 68 to further protect the finish on. the telescopic sights mounted .on the rack 34.

This completes a description of the structural details relating to the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, to insure a better understanding ofthesu-bject matter, a discussion will now be directedto the manner inwhich the device is used so as to perform its intended function and accomplish. the obj ectives. set forth in the introductory portion of the specification.

In use the pin 6.6 iswithdrawn. from the clamp. Stand the yoke-551s swung to theopen. position, shown by the broken lines in Fig. 6. The. telescopic sight 48 isthenplacedin a. pair of aligned pockets 46 in the spiders 36. and 38. The yoke 55is returned: tothetull. line position shown in Fig. 6 and the pin. 66 reinserted. The jawv 6.3 is. then broughtinto. contactv with the barrel of. the telescope 48,. by. turning down the screw and looking it with the nut 12. This forcesthe lower side. of. the barrel intoa. pressing relation.- ship with the pads 49 in the pockets lt thereby securing the telescope inthe rack 34 In a similar mannertelescopic sights may be placed in all of the aligned pockets. Q in :the rack 34. The forearm stock 581's then. grasped, and the deviceziselevated soas tobring the stock Ill. comfortably. in position. against. the shoulder. This places: the telescopic sight. A8 at. approximately. eye level, sothatit canbe conveniently viewed. Each of. :the remaining telescopic sights in the rack 34 may. be successively brought. into the top. or viewing. position. by the simple expedient of. indexing the rack. 34. to the various stations provided by the spaced openingsv 5.0.

Ateach viewing station thespring loaded ball detent. l3 ontheshoulderstock It. drops. into a corresponding locating indentation 5.5 on. the vertical face of the shoulder 49.. In this v way,v the telescopic sights, such as. 48., are each in turn placed in. aposition where they may. be properly viewed.v After all of, the telescopes have. been sighted through, the device is lowered from the shoulder and returned to its assigned position on the counter or display case, not here shown. To provide a stable base for holding. the device in an upright position, the movable portion 22 of the forearm stock it is: opened so as to provide a pair of supporting legs as shown in Fig. 3;

To do this, a lateral force. is appliedagainst the side of the movable member 22 thereby forcing the spring loaded ball detent 26 out' of the indentation This causes the movable member 1Z2 to'swing outward until the-two lateral shoulders 27- and 28 meet thereby providing a positive stop for the movable member 22. When it is again desired toprovide a forearm grip, the movable member 22 is moved into alignmentwith the stationary member 20 where it, is held securely by the action ofthe springloaded ball. detent 261 in the indentation, 3'0:

" susceptible of numerous other applications.

Therefore, what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

.1. A device for displaying and demonstrating telescopic sights comprising a fixed support, a shoulder stock on one end of the fixed support, a forearm stock on the other end of the fixed sup- 7 port, such forearm stoclc including a pair of relatively movable members, locking. means. yieldably holding the, relatively movable members in align-.- ment and means onthemcvable members -for.c0ntrolling the relative movement therebetween, a rack rotatably mounted on the fixed support-between the. two stocks, index means between the rack and the; shoulder stock providing a series of predetermi'ned stations for the rotatable rack and clamping means on the rack for securing a plurality of telescopic sights thereto.

2. A device for displayingrand demonstrating telescopic sights comprising a. fixed support, a shoulder stock on'on'e end. of the. fi'xed support,,a forearm stock on the otherend of the fixed support, such forearm stock including a pair of. relatively movable members, locking means yieldably holding the relatively movable members in alignment and means onthe movable members for controlling, the relative'movement' therebetween, a rack mounted on the fixed support for. rotation thereabout, index means between the rack. and the shoulder stock providing a series of predetermined stations for the rotatable rack and clampingmeans on the rack for securing a plurality of telescopic sights thereto.

3. A device for displaying and demonstrating telescopic sights, comprising a fixed support, a shoulder stock mounted on one end of the fixed support, a forearm stock mounted on the other end of the-fixed support, such forearm stock ineluding a pair of relatively movablemembers;

locking means 'yiel'da-bly holding the movable members in alignment and oppositely disposed and laterally displaced shoulders on the movable members control-ling therelative movement therebetween, a rack rotatably mounted on the fixed support between the shoulder-andforearm stocks; index means between the rack and the shoulder stock providing a series of pare-determined station for the rotatable rack and clamping means on the rotatable rack for securing a plurality of telescopic sights thereto.

4. A device for displaying and demonstrating telescopic sights, comprising a fixed support, a shoulder stock mounted on one end. of the fixed support, a forearm stock mounted on the other end of the fixed support, suchfo'rearm'. stock. in.- cluding a pair of relatively movable members, a spring loaded detentyieldably holding: the movable members in alignment and oppositely disposed and laterally displaced. shoulders. on the movable, members controlling the maximumlimit of relative movement therebetween, a rack. rotatably mounted on the fixedsu-pport. between. the shoulder and forearm stocks, index means between the rack and theshoulder stock providing a series of predetermined stations for the rotatable rack and clamping means on the rotatable rack for securing a plurality of telescopic sights thereto.

5. A device for displaying and demonstrating telescopic sights comprising a fixed support, a shoulder stock mounted on one end of the fixed support, a forearm stock mounted on the other end of the fixed support, such forearm stock including a pair of relatively movable members, a spring loaded detent yieldably holding the movable members in alignment and oppositely disposed and laterally displaced shoulders on the movable members controlling the maximum limit of relative movement therebetween, a rack mounted on the fixed support for rotation thereabout, such rack having a plurality of pockets therein adapted for the reception of telescopic sights and adjustable clamping means on the rack for securing such telescopic sights in each of the pockets, and index means between the rack and the shoulder stock providing a series of predetermined. stations for the rotatable rack.

6. A device for displaying and demonstrating telescopic sights comprising a fixed support, a shoulder stock adjustably mounted on one end of the fixed support, a forearm stock adjustably mounted on the other end of the fixed support, such forearm stock including a pair of relatively movable members, a spring loaded detent yieldably holding the movable members in alignment, and oppositely disposed and laterally displaced shoulders on the movable members controlling the maximum limit of relative movement therebetween, a rotatable rack on the fixed support between the shoulder and the forearm stocks, such rack havin a plurality of pockets therein adapted for the reception of telescopic sights, adjustable clamping means on the rack for securing the sights in each of such pockets and padding in the pockets to protect the sights and index means between the rack and the shoulder stock providing a series of pre-determined stations for the rotatable rack.

JOHN C. VIDA.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,076,658 Bechdoldt Oct. 28, 1913 1,311,860 Holzworth July 29, 1919 1,371,733 Britton Mar. 15, 1921 1,431,058 Sutter Oct. 3, 1922 1,551,809 Dodge Sept. 1, 1925 2,094,705 Jefferson Oct. 5, 1937 2,116,250 Nelson May 3, 1938 2,569,435 Martin Jan. 24, 1949 

